Hands-on with the Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic Moonphase Watches
Monday - 13 March 2023
The Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic Moonphase watches are an ode to the celestial body with their stunning blue and silver dial shades that reflect the colour of the earth and its sandy deserts as seen from the moon.
Are you in the market for a moonphase watch? If so, you might want to check out two seemingly simple watches from the Riviera watch collection by Baume & Mercier. As elegant as they seem, there is a complex level of sophistication that goes on behind both of these two beautiful dial shades in blue and silver. Here’s a closer look at both models, along with some details that you’ll want to know before investing in your next luxury moonphase watch.
Whilst top-end moonphase watches are often associated with the likes of Patek Philippe and A. Lange & Sohne, there are many more affordable moonphase watches circulating the market. The complication is one of the most interesting to have in a timepiece since it keeps track of the phases of the moon with just a simple glance. With a moonphase watch, you can tell whether the moon is half, full, quarter or new instantly by viewing a decorated window built into the dial (normally located at 6 o’clock).
The two Baume et Mercier watches that were released just last year by the brand offer a simplified dial with a sunlit and lacquered effect along with classic hour tracks that are represented in a mix of stick and Roman numeral indexes. A minute track runs around the flange, whilst the moon phase indicator itself is located at 6 o’clock, surrounded by the familiar dodecagonal-shaped bezel. Both belong to the Riviera watch collection, which played an integral role in putting Baume et Mercier on the map. The designs pay homage to the French Riviera, known for its perfect water, its beaches, picturesque views, yachts and overall luxury vibe. The collection was launched in 1973 but since then has received a stylish revamp with a more modernised 12-sided bezel. Despite its very relaxed and parred-back style, the Riviera range offers some more complex models like the reference 8669 with several complications that include a small second sub-dial, 30-minute totaliser and a 12-hour totaliser, accompanied by a date function and surrounded by a Roman numeral hour track. There’s also the Magnum XXL Flyback 8834, housed inside a large black-coated 45mm stainless steel case.
The two Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic Moonphase watches
The two new Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic Moonphase ref. 10681 and ref. 10682 watches are, as their name suggests, equipped with the company’s Baumatic manufacture movement, which performs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and comprises a total of 21 jewels. It sits inside a robust stainless steel case measuring a width of 43mm and a height of 12.34mm. The ref. 10682 presents the time on a stunning deep azure blue dial with a sunlit, lacquered and tinted effect. Riveted indexes are positioned at 3 and 9 o'clock and a traditional Roman numeral hour marker resides at 12 o’clock. The "Phases de Lune" watch is both artistic and technical, with the same blue colour (reminiscent of the Earth seen from the moon) used for the date ring surrounding the moon phase indicator at 6 o’clock. Here, phases of the moon are represented in shades of grey and black, whilst the central second hand is executed in a deep green colour and adorned with a counterweight of the Phi logo – the symbol of the house.
The Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic Moonphase watch ref. 10681 is designed in very much the same way, with skeletonised central hour and minute hands but with a sand-coloured dial and a grey flange for the minute track. From the moon, the Earth can be seen with its silvered deserts and poetic landscapes. The small auxiliary dial located at 6 o’clock is echoed in the same grey shade as the minute track and features the moon phases in shades of grey and black once more. Although an ode to the moon, the watch still manages to exude its sporty character with the dodecagonal-shaped bezel sitting on a 100-meter water-resistant case, and, this time, an interchangeable rubber strap in grey with a canvas pattern. The blue model, however, is fitted on an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet with a mix of polished and satin-finished links. The bracelet secures with a triple folding clasp and security push-pieces, as does the rubber strap option.
If you’d like more details on either of the two Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic watches, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 where you can place an order, or head over to the Riviera watch series here.
